The governments of Uttarakhand and Bihar have approved an increase in scholarships for interns and postgraduate students in medical fields in both states.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Uttarakhand decided to raise the monthly stipend for MBBS interns in government medical colleges from 17,000 to 25,000 rupees. This decision was made at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Meanwhile, separate changes were announced regarding salary amounts for students in Bihar. First-year postgraduate students will now receive 92,800 rupees instead of 82,000. Second-year students will receive 102,000 rupees instead of 90,200, and third-year postgraduate students will see their stipend increase to 112,200 rupees from the previous 99,220 rupees, which is a monthly increase of 12,980 rupees.
These increases will affect interns working in five government medical colleges in Uttarakhand, located in Srinagar, Haldwani, Dehradun, Haridwar, and Almora. These institutions offer MBBS and postgraduate medical education programs.
The Department of Health of Bihar announced these changes on September 11. Health Minister Nishant Kumar stated that this increase will provide postgraduates with better financial conditions and will contribute to the development of highly qualified personnel in the field of medical education.
Such initiatives in the two states will ensure more substantial financial support for students studying and interning in medicine, assisting them during their work and study periods in hospitals.
In Bihar, postgraduate students gain experience by participating in patient treatment and hospital operations under the supervision of senior doctors. In Uttarakhand, MBBS interns also work in hospitals during their training.
This increase comes against a backdrop of growing concern over disparities in stipends paid to medical students across different states. Recently, interns and students in several states protested due to low stipends, long working hours, and financial difficulties during their studies.